Image Processing Apparatus, Image Processing Method, and Program

1. An image processing apparatus comprising: a pre-combination processing unit configured to perform a pre-combination process so that a plurality of frames of image data having continuity in time are used as combination-use image data to be combined; an operation detection unit configured to detect operation input information used for a combination process; a storage unit configured to store a plurality of coefficient templates each having a different pattern of weighting coefficients, each of the different pattern of weighting coefficients being preconfigured to create a different flash effect; a template management unit configured to select one of the coefficient templates stored in the storage unit according to the operation input information indicating selection by a user of a particular flash preset from a plurality of selectable flash presets, each of the plurality of selectable flash presets being assigned to each different flash effect; and a combination processing unit configured to perform the combination process on the combination-use image data of the plurality of frames obtained in the pre-combination process using the coefficient template selected by the template management unit so as to generate combined-image data representing a still image.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the coefficient templates include a coefficient template having a pattern of weighting coefficients in which a high weighting coefficient is assigned to a start frame in consecutive frames and in which a low weighting coefficient is assigned to a remaining frame.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the coefficient templates include a coefficient template having a pattern of weighting coefficients in which a high weighting coefficient is assigned to a last frame in consecutive frames and in which a low weighting coefficient is assigned to a remaining frame.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the coefficient templates include a coefficient template having a pattern of weighting coefficients in which a high weighting coefficient and a low weighting coefficient are periodically assigned to consecutive frames.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, in the pre-combination process, the pre-combination processing unit obtains a plurality of frames of image data having continuity in time that are recorded on a recording medium, and uses the obtained plurality of frames of image data as combination-use image data to be combined.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: an image capture unit configured to capture an image of a subject to obtain image data; and a recording playback unit configured to record and play back the image data obtained by the image capture unit onto and from a recording medium, wherein, in the pre-combination process, the pre-combination processing unit detects a plurality of consecutive or intermittent frames of image data from a plurality of frames of image data that are recorded on the recording medium, and uses the detected plurality of consecutive or intermittent frames of image data as combination-use image data to be combined.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a display control unit configured to generate display data for selecting any one of the plurality of selectable flash presets and output the generated display data as image data for selection by the user for display.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the display control unit generates image display data for an image in which combination effects achieved using the selected coefficient template are shown, and outputs the generated image display data as the image data used for display.

9. An processor-implemented image processing method comprising the steps of: performing, via a processor, a pre-combination process so that a plurality of frames of image data having continuity in time are used as combination-use image data to be combined; detecting operation input information used for a combination process; selecting one of a plurality of coefficient templates each having a different pattern of weighting coefficients assigned to image data of frames, each of the different pattern of weighting coefficients being configured to create a different flash effect, wherein the selected one of the plurality of coefficient templates is selected according to the operation input information indicating selection by a user of a particular flash preset from a plurality of different flash presets, each of the plurality of different flash presents being assigned to each different flash effect; and performing, via the processor, the combination process on the combination-use image data of the plurality of frames obtained in the pre-combination process using the selected coefficient template so as to generate combined-image data representing a still image.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage unit on which computer-readable instructions of a program are stored, the instructions, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to: performing a pre-combination process so that a plurality of frames of image data having continuity in time are used as combination-use image data to be combined; detecting operation input information used for a combination process; selecting one of a plurality of coefficient templates each having a different pattern of weighting coefficients assigned to image data of frames, each of the different pattern of weighting coefficients being configured to create a different flash effect, wherein the selected one of the plurality of coefficients is selected according to the operation input information indicating selection by a user of a particular flash preset from a plurality of different flash presets, each of the plurality of different flash presents being assigned to each different flash effect; and performing the combination process on the combination-use image data of the plurality of frames obtained in the pre-combination process using the selected coefficient template so as to generate combined-image data representing a still image.